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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 21, 2012 19:52:41 GMT 12
Thanks Pete, now corrected.
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Post by richardjohnson on Apr 27, 2012 1:06:38 GMT 12
I am trying to find out what happened to No. 75 Squadron Wellington serial number 14472, AA-P in which my father, A.H. "Johnny" Johnson was rear gunner, Feltwell c. 1940-41. Although he never spoke in any detail of his time with 75 Squadron, I do know that he was badly shot up and spent the rest of the war on Air Sea Rescue at Calshot near Southampton. Sadly he took his own life in 1970.
I have a painting of this aircraft which my father painted whilst in convalescence, hanging on my living room wall.
Thanks for any info.
Richard johnson.
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Post by oggie2620 on Oct 2, 2014 12:05:41 GMT 12
Dave pic of Welllington AA-Z has turned up on Facebook. Will try n tag you  Dee |
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Post by oggie2620 on Oct 2, 2014 12:06:15 GMT 12
I am trying to find out what happened to No. 75 Squadron Wellington serial number 14472, AA-P in which my father, A.H. "Johnny" Johnson was rear gunner, Feltwell c. 1940-41. Although he never spoke in any detail of his time with 75 Squadron, I do know that he was badly shot up and spent the rest of the war on Air Sea Rescue at Calshot near Southampton. Sadly he took his own life in 1970. I have a painting of this aircraft which my father painted whilst in convalescence, hanging on my living room wall. Thanks for any info. Richard johnson. |
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Post by pjw4118 on Oct 20, 2014 11:51:53 GMT 12
Nick Carter flew on tour on 75 Squadron as W/OP to his Pilot Jack Wright from Wellington. When they moved to Mildenhall in August 1942 the crew took over BJ772 D for Duck finishing their tour in October. Here is D for Duck as painted for Nick post war.  |
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gomz
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by gomz on Mar 14, 2016 16:36:09 GMT 12
Wellington X9951 is AA-L as noted from my grand fathers logbook. lost on 7-Nov-1941.
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strobes
Leading Aircraftman
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Post by strobes on May 2, 2016 3:42:37 GMT 12
"1162 AA- I think this is AA-Y w/ soda siphon spitting bombs nose art"
My father flew as Navigator in 1162 Y 19 to 26/4/41 but can't confirm the artwork
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Post by fwx on May 2, 2016 9:24:52 GMT 12
Hi strobes, Was your father S/L George Eric Fowler, DFC?  "Forever Strong" by Norman Franks identifies P/O Eric Fowler as second from front in the above photo, behind skipper P/O Oliver Matheson, but Rear Gunner Jack Wakefield identifies this person as "F/O Barnes". I can't find a F/O Barnes in the squadron records, so maybe this is your father? More about Jack Wakefield and the Matheson crew here: www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2015/03/episode-80-ake-ake-kia-kaha-the-no-75-squadron-story/The photo captioned "The old Firm!" on that page corresponds to the Matheson crew as it was around late-March to mid-April 1941, before Bob Fotheringham got his own crew. The Front Gunner was a Sgt. Crossley, RAF. Cheers, Chris |
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Post by fwx on May 2, 2016 10:12:31 GMT 12
Wow, I have just seen that S/L Eric Fowler was Captain of his own crew on his second tour with 75 (NZ) Sqdn (early 1943, Stirlings); with the role of Air Bomber! That's the only instance I've come across of a Captain not being a Pilot by trade? I wonder if he was Squadron Bombing Leader at the time?
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Post by fwx on May 2, 2016 11:18:12 GMT 12
Hi gomz, thanks for the "L" code for X9951 - who was your grandfather? Would love to hear about him, and also see what other codes he might have in his logbook!! Cheers, Chris
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waynem
Pilot Officer
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Post by waynem on May 8, 2016 14:40:15 GMT 12
Hi Chris,
Regarding Pilots not being Captain of the aircraft, there is an earlier example listed in the ORB.
7 December 1942 P/O Williams Air Bomber was Captain of aircraft, F/S Dunmall was Pilot. (BK615).
9/10 December 1942 P/O Williams Air Bomber was Captain of aircraft, F/S Dunmall was Pilot. (BF398)
Then again when lost on 17/18 December 1942 (BK620).
F/S Dunmall had flown as captain in Wellington aircraft before converting to Stirlings.
I don't remember any others off hand, not with 75 squadron anyway.
Cheers,
Wayne.
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Post by fwx on May 8, 2016 16:10:56 GMT 12
Thanks Wayne, apparently Eric Fowler was also a Flight Commander.
EDIT: In fact he was made temporary Commanding Officer of the squadron when W/C Vic Mitchell was lost on 17/18.12.42, until W/C Gerald Lane took over on 1.1.43.
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Post by Dave Homewood on May 8, 2016 17:44:22 GMT 12
I guess it was down to their experience in combat flying as opposed to that of the pilot. Fowler flew two tours and was on the second when he was captain, and by the time P/O Eric Williams joined Dunmall's crew he'd flown with the squadron already for four months whilst Dunmall had flown just one op as second dickie.
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Post by alexwallin on Apr 10, 2018 4:30:45 GMT 12
Hi strobes, Was your father S/L George Eric Fowler, DFC? "Forever Strong" by Norman Franks identifies P/O Eric Fowler as second from front in the above photo, behind skipper P/O Oliver Matheson, but Rear Gunner Jack Wakefield identifies this person as "F/O Barnes". I can't find a F/O Barnes in the squadron records, so maybe this is your father? More about Jack Wakefield and the Matheson crew here: www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz/WONZShow/2015/03/episode-80-ake-ake-kia-kaha-the-no-75-squadron-story/The photo captioned "The old Firm!" on that page corresponds to the Matheson crew as it was around late-March to mid-April 1941, before Bob Fotheringham got his own crew. The Front Gunner was a Sgt. Crossley, RAF. Cheers, Chris |
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Post by Antonio on Oct 27, 2022 19:29:46 GMT 12
Just noticed this entry in the master list on page 2:
BK724 AA Y Wellington III
BK724 was a Short Stirling with no connection to 75(NZ) Sqn.
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